Member Article

Government’s Northern Powerhouse commitment called into question amidst SSI Teesside blow

The government is under pressure from the North East to provide support to the UK steel industry following the news that production at Teesside steel plant SSI, which employs up to 2,000 people, is to be ‘paused’.

Thai-owned firm SSI revealed on friday (September 18) that preparations are being made to systematically reduce production at the Teesside site.

Now, Cllr Sue Jeffrey, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, is calling on the government to do more to protect UK manufacturing and deliver on its promise to support a Northern Powerhouse

Cllr Jeffrey said: “This news is a real blow to our communities and my thoughts are with everyone affected by today’s announcement.

“We have fought long and hard to get steel production up and running again, since it was mothballed in 2010. And we recognise how important this is to our local economy, and the impact on the prosperity and the wellbeing of our people.

“I’m disappointed that the global market situation has led to SSI’s decision to close the South Bank coke ovens and pause production, particularly as we have all worked so hard in recent years to support and nurture the business.

“We will do everything we can as a council to work with SSI to try and ensure that steelmaking is sustained into the future.

“But National Government must take the lead to support the steel industry both here in the Tees Valley and across the UK. We need to see the rhetoric of the Northern Powerhouse turned into action. This is the first real test of this key government policy and they need to show that they can deliver.”

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